If you're looking for an amazing, helpful, and easy handmade tool for woodworking, here’s a game-changer:
📌 DIY "Poor Man’s Router Plane" (for Perfectly Flat Grooves & Rebates)
✅ Why It’s Genius for Beginners:
✔ Super cheap (uses scrap wood & a chisel)
✔ No power tools required
✔ Perfect for cleaning up dados, tenons, and hinge mortises
🛠 Materials Needed:
Hardwood block (or plywood, ~4"x4"x2")
Chisel (a cheap one works)
Screws or bolts (to secure the chisel)
Sandpaper (for smoothing)
🔨 How to Build It (Step-by-Step):
1️⃣ Make the Base
Cut a rectangular block (or laminate plywood) to ~4"x4"x2" (adjust size based on your chisel).
Drill a hole slightly smaller than your chisel’s width near one edge.
2️⃣ Secure the Chisel
Insert the chisel blade-up through the hole.
Tighten it with a screw or wedge (so it doesn’t move).
3️⃣ Adjust Depth
To set depth, slide shims under the chisel or adjust the bolt.
🔥 How to Use It:
Works like a hand-powered router—great for:
Flattening grooves (e.g., for drawer bottoms).
Cleaning up tenons & dadoes.
Mortising hinges without tear-out.
Push it like a mini plane, letting the base guide the cut.
💡 Bonus Upgrades:
Add a fence (for edge-guided cuts).
Use an old plane iron instead of a chisel for wider cuts.
This tool is crazy useful, costs almost nothing, and beats buying a $100+ router plane!
Want more genius DIY woodworking tools? Try:
"Bow Clamp" (for gluing panels with rope & sticks).
"Marking Gauge" (from a nail & wood scrap).
Let me know if you want plans for those! 😊🔪
